Winding key for collapsible wall type containers



J. E. REGAN Sept. 8, 1959 WINDING KEY FOR COLLAPSIBLE WALL TYPE CONTAINERS I Filed April 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Sept. 1959 I J. E. REGAN 2,903,1 2

WINDING KEY FOR- CQLLAPSIBLE WALL TYPE CONTAINERS Filed April 18. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet z INVENTOR By W ATTORNEYS WINDING KEY FOR COLLAPSIBLE WALL TYPE CONTAINERS John E. Regan, Elmhurst, N.Y.

Application April 18, 1958, Serial No. 729,381

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-99) This invention relates generally to a winding key for collapsible wall type tubes, and more particularly to a winding key for discharging the contents from a plastic collapsible tube, said winding key being provided with retaining bar means for preventing unrolling of the tube from a partially Wound state.

A new type of collapsible wall container has recently been introduced into commerce in this country wherein the walls of the container are formed from a plastic material such as polyethylene or the like as distinguished from the well-known thin-walled metal toothpaste tube. Such plastic tubes have been used to contain toothpaste, glue, sun tan lotion, decorative cake frostings and many other fluid and semi-fluid products. One problem which arises from the use of these plastic walled containers is that the wound end of a partially discharged container has a tendency to unwind and resume its original tubular configuration due to the restoring force inherent in the plastic material. This unwinding is very undesirable since it is accompanied by a suction effect which tends to draw air, bacteria and other impurities into the con tainer to contaminate and harden the contents thereof.

As a solution to this problem, the present invention was developed to provide a novel winding key for rolling up the bottom of a collapsible walled container, said winding key being provided with retaining bar means adapted to cooperate with the wall of the tube to prevent unwinding of the partially wound end of the tube.

Thus the primary object of my invention is to provide a winding key for rolling up the flat end of a collapsible wall type plastic container, said winding key having retaining bar means for preventing unrolling of the partially wound tube.

Another object of my invention is to provide a winding key having a generally tubular configuration with a longitudinal slot therein for receiving the fiat end of the collapsible wall tube and provided with a retaining bar extending substantially parallel to the axis of said winding key and spaced from the 'key, said retaining bar preventing unwinding of the container when the end thereof is partially wound about said key intermediate the key and the retaining bar.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a winding key having a retaining bar pivotally connected at one end thereto, said retaining bar being adapted to be pivotally displaced to a position substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the key and spaced from said key, the free end of said retaining bar being provided with means for connecting the same to the winding key.

Another object of my invention is to provide a winding key for collapsible wall containers and provided with a retaining bar extending parallel to and spaced from said winding key, said retaining bar being rotatably connected to said winding key.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a winding key having flanges which are pressed together 2,903,162 Patented Sept. 8, 1959 ice to seal the closed end of a plastic collapsible wall container, said winding key having retaining bar means extending substantially parallel to and spaced from said winding key and functioning to prevent unrolling of the container end from a partially wound state.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a slidably movable discharge assistant for a collapsible wall type container, said discharge assistant having a main body on one side of the flat end of the container and a retaining element portion pivotally connected to said main body and extending on the other side of said container flat end, said retaining element portion being provided with means for securing the free end thereof to said main body.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent froma study of the following specification when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my winding key integrally secured to the flat end of a collapsible wall plastic container, the retainer bar being illustrated in the disengaged state;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 after a portion of the contents of the container has been removed by winding motion of the winding key, the retaining bar being illustrated to be in its locking position;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the winding key of Fig. l which is modified to be removably secured to a collapsi ble-wall plastic container;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the key of Fig. 3 used as a sliding discharge assistant for the plastic collapsible wall container;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of another embodiment of my winding key; I

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 0 Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a bottom perspective view of another embodiment of my winding key;

Fig. 10 is an end view of the Winding key of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a partly sectioned elevational view of the embodiment of Fig. 9.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the collapsible wall container 1 has a discharge nozzle 2 at one end thereof provided with removable closure means 3. While the container may be of any suitable material-such as flexible metal or the likethe invention is particularly designed for use with containers made from the synthetic plastic materials such as polyethylene or the like, which containers have been recently introduced in commerce for the marketing of semi-fluid products such as glue, skin lotions, decorative cake frostings, and the like.

Secured to the other end of the container to close the same is the winding key 4 formed of rigid metal bent to have upstanding flanges 5 and 6 forming therebetween a longitudinally-extending slot 7. Susequent to the filling of the container, the end portion of the tube is temporarily formed intoa flat configuration, the key 4 is slipped over the flat end with the slot 7 receivingthe same, and the flanges 5 and 6 are pressed toward each other to seal the end of the tube in a fluid-tight manner.

At one end the key is provided with an integral projecting portion 8 formed as a handle which may be grasped by the users fingers to rotate the key about its longitudinal axis and thus wind up the lower end of the container 3. toexpelthe, contentsthereof through the discharge nozzle 2.

Pivotally connected to the key 4 adjacent the handle 8 is a rigid retaining bar 9 formed from a rod of metal, plastic; or other suitable materialz- The. retaining bar 9i-ofaFigsi l-fiti saef a U-shapediconfiguration.and has:apain of parallel" legs 9a, 9b joinedzat their extremities. furthermost: from the pivotal connectionby a transverse portion 9d The specific structure: of the key and the pivotal. connection. of. the retaining bar thereto will be presented in greater. detail belowv with specific reference to? Eigsr 3-5:

Whentheelosure member Sisremoved and.the key 4 is.=wound to: the position illustrated in Figs 2 to partially expel the: contents-from the plastic: container, the retainings bar 9'maybe-pivoted relative to the key to cause the transverse.-Portionl 9a to Positively. engage the' end- 4a of the key opposite the end having. the: handle 8. When; the, retaining baris locked in the. position illustrated in-Eig: 2, leg 9b of: the retaining bar. will engage the. container wallto oppose the restoring force inherent in the plastic material which tendsto cause unwinding of the container lower portion.

Figs 35 illustrate in detail the basic key of Figs; 1-.

and. 2 WhiChdS designed to be removably secured. to a:

standard plastic container having a closed end seam. The same reference numeralshave beenused on identical parts:- inthefigures;

Thekey. blank ispunchedor cutfrom a metal sheet and is bentby dies or other. suitable forming means to have a handle portion 8 and projecting longitudinal flanges so that the flange 4a may be removed fromthe key if desired. to provide an opening for axial insertionof'the key upon the tube. The flange 4a has= a punched-out tongue 4c adaptedto receive the: transverse portion 9c of the retaining bar when said bar is pivoted to itslockingpositionillustrated in .Fig. 4.

As shown in Figs. 3-5 theextremities 9d, 9e of the legs 9a; 9b,.respectively, of-the retaining bar are bent inwardly and extend through oppositely aligned open ings 4b in-the key flange portions adjacent the handle 8. If desired the tips of the extremities9eand9d mayberjoinedtogether; as for. example by- -theweld' joint '10 (Fig; 5). It-willthus be apparentthat-the retaining bar 9 ispivotally. connected tothe body of the key 4 by thecooperation of: the inwardly directed extremities 9d, 9 with'lheoppositely alignediopenings 4b..

The operation of the keyisidentical withtheopera tioniillustratedin- Figs;v 1 and 2.- After the flatend.of--

the. tube:1 has been removably; insertedinto the slot 7,

the. handle: 8 is rotated to .cause' the' key to wind up 'thetube-end: andexpel the tube contents through the nozzle 2. When a desired quantity of the contents of" the plastic container. have. beendischarged, the retaining bar is pivoted to lock the transverse portion 90 under the tongue. 4c ofthe end flange portionAa.

to-the. restoringfor ce inherentintheplastic material and consequently avoidlhe suctionof air, bacteria-and=other impurities into. the. container.

Another application .ofithe-basic .key of Fig 3-.is illustrated'in Fig. 6, wherein thekey 4 functions as aslidably movable discharge assistantfor. expelling the contents fromihe container;

Leg 9b will engagethe cont-ainerwall and .thus prevent unrolling of .thesame'due Accordingto thisv application: ofithe' key, the key body. is positioned on one side. of the'containe'r 1 and both legs (92:, 9b) of the retaining.

bar'9" are positioned'on' the other side of the container. After the retaining bar has been pivoted to cause the transverse portion of the retaining bar to be locked against the end flange 4a, the 'key may be slidably displaced relative to the container 1 toward the nozzle 2 thereof to discharge the contents of the container therefrom. Due to the flat deformation of the flat portion of the tube intermediatethewinding key and the retaining bar,,the discharge assistant will be firmly positioned on the tube and return of the tube to its original configuration will be prevented.

Referring now to Figs. 7. and 8', another embodiment of my winding key. is illustrated. The winding key body 11 is similar to the Winding key body of Figs. 16 and is formed from. a: sheet metal; blank to provide side flanges 12, 13 forming therebetween a slot '14 adapted to receive the flat end of the plastic container 15.

According to this embodiment of my invention the retainingbanmeans-zfor preventing unrollingof: apart'ally discharged: tubacomprises a'rnetal rod 16: having a s ght section 16w; extending parallel with the. longitudinal axis of the key body 11: One end 16b of the retaining barj16 is; wound; around' the. key body 11 adjacentits end flange 11a, and the other end. of the. retaining baris wound arounckthe'key body. 111 adjacentits handle portion: 1117* and: terminates in. an: operating lever portion From: an examination of Fig. 8 it will be. apparent that the portions 1612;. 16c of; the retaining bar which are wound upon the-key. body 11- are formed to have a noncircularconfiguration so; that; the retaining bar will not be freely rotatable. aboutthe winding. key .11 but rather will'have a certain degree of resistance'to' rotation.

12a; .1311 are arrangedtoform a generally polygonal configurationvas ShOW'ILTiII Fig. 8; and the cooperation of the noncircular segments ofzth'e retaining rodzwound portions 16b; 16c.:therewithi is such as to prevent unwinding of the tube;from' its:.wounda state. illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8=- It should-.also-be mentioned:thatiinthis embodiment a-=.so-:called.clutchaction isprovided for the release of the retaining bar'fromkthe winding key. Referring again to'Figi. 8; it-will beseen that upon rotation of the lever 16d in a counter-clockwisedirectionwitlr respect to the axis of: thewinding. key. and with the straight portion 16a retained stationaryythe wound end i16c of the retaining bar willwbe;loosened'somewhat in its peripheral engagementwith .therwindingkey withflthe result that r0- tatiomofj therwinding'. key inianzunwinding direction with respect to'the retaining bar straight portion 16a-may be accomplished.

The operation ofthis embodiment may now be briefly described. After: the, closed'zflat' end .of the'container has been inserted into the slot :14, the winding key is manuallyv rotated by means'of handle'portion-l-lb. by the user while the retaining bar- 16 and the tube 15: are held stationary by theother hand of -the'user; Afteradesired quantity of thecontents have been'discharged from the container 15,- the cooperationof the straight portion 16a of the retaining bar with the container outer;wall willprevent any unwinding of. the: tube woundiportion which would result from the restoring force inherent in the;plastic tube wall. To unwind the tube, the lever 16d is rotated relative to theskey; 11. in adirection to cause partial unwinding of the retaining ba-r wound portion 16:: and consequently reduce the. peripheral'engagement of the wound portion. with. the key. The key. may then" be readily rotated in the unwinding direction relative to the straight portion IGaof-the retaining bar.

Figs; 911.illustrate another embodiment of my inventionwhereinthe winding'key 20'has a retaining bar 21 of plastic, metalon other suitable material pivotally connected thereto. At one endthe retainingv bar is split and formedinto two legs 21a, 21b which straddle the windingk'ey body. The: retainingbar is-pivotally con- The base'of thekey 11, the flanges 12,13 and the flange tabs nected to the winding key at pivot axis 22 by any suitable means.

At the other end the retaining bar is formed to have a right angled portion 210 adapted to slidably engage the end flange 20a of the winding key to lock the free end of the retaining bar to the winding key and prevent unwinding of the plastic tube in the manner described above. If desired the right angled portion 210 may have a tab 21d inwardly directed toward the end flange 20a and adapted to be inserted into groove or slot 2012 provided in the end flange 20a and the adjacent portion of the winding key body. It should be mentioned that the cooperation of the tab 21d in the slot 20b provides a certain degree of lateral stability to the retaining bar in its locked position.

In each of the pivotal embodiments of my winding key the retaining bar may be made from metal, hard rubber, plastic or other suitable material, and although the retaining bar is substantially rigid, it is so designed that a slight degree of resiliency is provided therein with the result that a slight degree of tensioning is required to fit the free end of the bar over the end flange of the key. This tensioning achieves a firm and positive locking of the retaining bar to the winding key.

Although the winding key body has been described as being formed from a metal sheet, it is also possible to manufacture the rigid body from other suitable materials, such as wood, plastics, cardboard and the like.

While in accordance with the patent statutes I have illustrated and described the best forms and embodiments of my invention now known to me, it will be apparent to others skilled in the art that certain changes and improvements might be made in the product described without deviating from the scope of my invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A winding key for collapsible wall type containers having a discharge opening at one end thereof and a flat extremity at the other end thereof, comprising a key body having a longitudinal slot therein adapted to receive the flat extremity of said container, and a resilient retaining rod rotatably connected to said key body, a first end of said retaining rod being resiliently coiled cireumferem tially about said key body adjacent one end of said slot and the other end of said rod being coiled about said key body adjacent the other end of said slot, the portion of said retaining rod intermediate the coiled end portions thereof being substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said key body, the portion of said key body upon which the first coiled end of said rod is wound having a non-circular cross-sectional configuration and the first coiled end of said rod also having a non-circular configuration to frictionally restrain rotational movement of the retaining rod relative to the key body, and means for partially uncoiling said rod first coiled end to temporarily release the frictional restraining force between the coiled end and the key body, the straight portion of said re taining bar being arranged to contact a side portion of the container when said container is wound on the key body to prevent uncontrolled unrolling of the wound portion of the container.

2. A winding key as defined in claim 1 wherein the rod first coiled end terminates in an operating lever portion extending substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the key body, said operating lever constituting said means for partially uncoiling said rod first coiled end portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,941,631 Socolofi Jan. 2, 1934 2,035,713 McMackin Mar. 31, 1936 2,122,509 Beliaeff July 5, 1938 2,708,941 Field May 24, 1955 2,742,190 Beckett Apr. 17, 1956 2,762,378 Lerner Sept. 11, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 293,336 Switzerland "gigs"??? Sept. 1 5, 1956 

